I have hiked in that area and it is easy to take a wrong turn. It is very vegetated and hard to see far to orient. Every time there is a fire in that terrain, many side roads and trails are made and none with signs. There was a major fire last year. Given the confusing trails breaking from the group was probably not the best decision. But the fellow was an amazing survivalist! The weather here has been horrible the last few days - rain/snow and temperature hovering around freezing. Yosemite Valley was covered with snow this morning (4000 feet). Snow went down to 3000 feet. An inch of rain fell in my neighborhood. And it was windy.